Corn-popping machine



Filed June 15 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 gwuento'c April "27 '1'926. 1,582,306 I w. D. Roo'r .CORN POPPING momma:

Filed June 13, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 27,1926. 1,582,306

W. D. ROOT CORN POPPI NG MACHINE Filed June 13, 1923 5 Shets-Sheet 5 gwucmloz 1,582,306 w. D. ROOT CORN POPPING MACHINE April 27 1926.

Filed June 15. 1923 5 Sheets- Sheet 4 April 27 1926.

W D. ROOT CORN POPfING MACHINE Fi1ed June 13, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Apr. 27, 1926.

UNITED STATES; r

TENT meg.

WILLIAM D. ROOT, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE MACHINERY IMPROVE- MENT COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, QHIO, A CORPUBATION OF OHIO.

oonn-rorrrnc- MACHINE.

Application filed June 13, 1923.

To all whom 2'15 may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM 1). H0012, a citizen of the United States residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and 5 State'of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Corn-Popping Machines, of which the following is a full, clear,v and exact description.

This invention relates to popping mal0 chines of the type in which there is acontinually driven popping device which has a definite cycle of operations for popping and delivering each charge of corn, which has means for automatically supplyinga charge of unpopped corn at the beginning of each cycle of operations and which when once started in operation continues to pop one charge after the other until the driving mechanism is stopped.

An object of the present invention is to provide means for controlling the operation of the popping machine which includes a manually operable controller movable toon and off positions to start or stop the machine, together with means operable when the controller is moved to oif position to continue the operation of the machine until the cycle of operation is completed and the charge in the popping device has been popped and then to stop the machine.

A further object is to provide timing means for controlling the discharging and feeding means to provide a shorter or longer time for the popping of the charge of corn.

A further object is tozprovide means for rendering the heating device inoperative during the interval between successive popping operation while the unpopped corn is being discharged from the popping device and a fresh charge of unpopped corn; is being delivered thereto.

A further ob ectis to provide means continuallv oierated from the drivin means for controlling the operation of the charge feeding popper discharging and popper heating devices. 7

Other objects will be apparent from the following description and accon'ipanying drawings.

The following description and accompanying drawings set forth in detail certain n e'aiis embodying the invention, the disclosed means, however, constituting but one the various] mechanical ft is in. when Serial No. 645,064.

the device for discharging unpoppe'd corn from the popping cylinder; Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the gate for controlling the discharge of unpopped corn; Fig. 9 is a wiring diagram showing the motor and heater circuits.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the popping machine herein disclosed and embodying the present invention consists of a continuously driven popping device which is adapted to receive charges of unpopped' corn and has adefinit-e cycle of operations during which the corn is popped, the popped corn is separated from the unpopped corn and the corn which will not pop is finally discharged separately from the popped corn; a device which operates to automatically feed the unpopped corn to the popping device at the beginning of each operation thereof; and a driving and controlling mechanism by meansof which the popping device is continuously driven andthe devices for feeding a charge of unpopped corn to the popping device and discharging unpopped corn therefromare operated at predetermined intervals.

Popping device.

. The popping device is in the form of a rotatably mounted cylinder 1 which is providcd with side plates 2 and 8 on the outer and inner sides thereof the side. plate 2 having an axial opening 4 through which unpopped corn is delivered to the cylinder and the inner side plate 3 having a discharge outlet 5 for popped corn between the axis and periphery thereof. The cylinder 1 is carried by ahorizontal shaft G which extends through the axial opening 4 of the outer side plateQ and is attachedtc a plate *5 which rig-Edi semen. the side plate V and is offset in ardly therefrom opposite the )ening l. The cylindrical wall ot the cylinder 1 is in the form of a screen 3, the mesh of which is line enough to retain the kernels of unpopped corn. An inner spiral screen 9 is attached to its outer end to the screen 8 and at its inner end to a side wall of the discharge chute 10 which delivers the popped corn through the discharge opening 5 in the inner wall 3 of the cylinder. The spiral screen 9 is of coarser mesh than the screen 8 and will permit the unpopped kernels to pass readily therethrough but will retain the popped corn. The inner screen 9 serves to separate the popped corn from the unpopped corn during each revolution of the cylinder and delivers the popped corn to the discharge chute 10 so that the popped corn is delivered from the cylinder during the popping. An electric heater 11 (see Figs. 1. and is located adjacent the underside of the cylinder directly beneath the portion of the cylinder w iere the unpopped corn is supported during the rotation of the cylinder.

As viewed in Figs. 1 and i, the cylinder rotates in a clockwise direction. The unpopped corn tends to more with the cylinder but is continuously rolling hack toward the central bottom portion thereot. For this reason the unpopped corn will he supported in a positionslightly at one side of the central transverse plane of the cylinder and the heater 11 is locatel to the left of the central transverse plane of the cylinder. The cylinder in its rotation continuously agitates the corn and retains it directly over the heater. The unpopped corn is delivered to the cylinder through a chute 12 which can tends into the opening a in tlie outer side plate 3 and discharges against the inner plate 7. The plate 7 serves as a partition lac-- tween the inlet chute for unpopped corn and the discharge chute for the popped corn.

After the cylinder has operated for a sufticicnt time to pop all the corn of a charge which will pop the unpopped corn remainingin the cylinder is discharged therefrom by means of a discharge gate 13 which is mounted within the cylinder a short distance in advance ol the point where the spiral Screen 9 is attached to theouter screen 8. The gate 13' is fixed to a horizontal sha'lt lrl which extends through the cylinder and is journaled in the side walls 52 am 3 tlurco'l'. The gate 13 is a box-like lllOl'l'llXEl which has a flat botoiu plate 15 which has its inner edge adjacent the shaft 1t and an outer tree edge which is adapted when the gate is moved to discharge position to engage the outer screen 8 of the cylinder and dctlect any material within the cylinder inwardly. The gate 13 has a top wall 16 spaced inwardly vtroin the bottom wall 15 and the topiwall' 16 has an outturned tla ge 17 at its forward end, the

edge of which forms with the outer edge of the bottom plate 15,1 narrow slot 15, which will permit unpoppcd kernels of corn to pass into the gate but. will'prcvent, the entry of popped kernels. The gate 13 has a rear laterally inclined'wall 19 which during the rotation of the cylinder serves to deflect the nnpopped corn which has entered the g through a discharge opening 20 in the side plate 2 into a discharge chute 21 fixed to the outer side of a cylinder. An arm 22 is .llXOtl to the shaft 1% intermediate its ends on the outer side ot the side plate 2, the outer end of the arm 22 is provided with an outwardly projecting pin by means of which it is actuated by a curved actuating lever 2 which is pivoted to the side plate 2 by means ot a pivot 25 intermediate its ends. ll hen the outer end of the actuating lever is swun inv-Jardly, the gate 13 is swung outwardly to discharging position. A rod 26 is pivoted to the inner end of the actuating arm 2 and has its outer end slidingly mounted in an opening in a bracket 2? carried by the. side plate 2. A compression coil spring 28 is interposed between a collar 29 fixed to the rod 26 and the bracket 27. The rod 26 "forms with the inner end of the arm 22, a. spring toggle which moves past dead center as the discharge gate13 moves outwardly to discharge position and serves to yieldingly. retain the discharge gate 13 either in a position to scoop up the unpopped corn or in a position todischarge the corn which has accumulated within the gate i3 into the discharge chute 21. The inner end of the curved lever'il t is provided with an outwardly projecting portion 30 which is adapted to engage with a suitable trip which is operated by the driving mechanism to move the gate 13 to discharging position. The inner end portion of the lever 24 lies close to the side plate 2 while the outer end portion which overlies the actuating arm 22 is ofi set outwardly from the side plate The outer end portion of the lever 2 has an inclined lug 31 on the inner side thereof which engages with a fixed trip otter the lever 24; has been actuated to shift the discharge gatc into engagement with the screen to shift the lcvc" 2st to its original position and to shift the gate 13 to its normal position out of" cngagcmcntwith the screen 3. The lugs 30 and 31 are spaced nearly 190 apart and are so positioned that the lugs till will he cog ed hy the llHOtl trip alter the game 13 has pa. l the heater so that as the ute is moving aliove lhc ais ol'lhc cylinder .hc unpoppcd corn therein will he disc-lunged through the discharge chutc 21.

"ate

Feeding (Zena/cc for vmpoppcd corn. A. supply of unpopped corn is maintained within a hopper bottom receptacle 32 which 18 supported upon the top wall 33 of the cas- (ill ing within which the popping-mechanism is enclosed. The receptacle 32 has a cylindrithe hopper bottom thereof which restupon the top of the wall 33 adjacent the opening. The receptacle 32 is thus adapted to be removed bodily from the casing. The lower end of the discharge portion 34 of the receptacle 32 extends into the open upper end of an inclined tubular chute 36 which is supported at its outer end by means of brackets 37 rigidly attached to the enlarged upper end 38 of the chute 12 which delivers to the cylinder 1 and at its inner end is supported by means of bolts 37 extending from the top wall The delivery of unpopped corn from the chute 36 to the open upper end 38 of the chute 12is controlled by means of a valve 39 which is fixed to a horizontal pivot pin 49 journaled to the side walls of the upper end portion 38 of the chute 12. The valve 39 has abottom 41 which extends from the pivot pin 40 and side walls42 which form continuations of the side walls of thetubue lar chute 36. Extending upwardly from the bottom 41 there is a curved cut-off plate 43 which serves to close the discharge end of the chute 36 when the valve 39 is operated to deliver a. charge of corn to the chute 12. The valve 39 normally occupies the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing in which the valve is in communication with the chute 36 and the cut-off plate 43 and bottom plate 41 form a pocket adapted to retain a predetermined charge of corn, the pivot 40 be mg at a sufficient height to prevent overflow of corn from the chute 36 into the chute 12. The valve 39 is operated by means of a lever 44 which is pivoted at its outer end to an outwardly projecting bracket carried by the upper end portion 38 of the chute 12. The lever 44 has a slot 46' at its inner end which receives a pin 47 which projects from one of the side walls 42 of the valve. The valve 39 is operated at predetermined intervals to deliver a charge of corn to the chute 12 by means of a vertically disposed rod 48 which ispivoted to the lever 44 intermediate its ends, the rod 48 being actuated at predetermined intervals, as will be hereinafter explained, from the driving mechanism.

During the operation of the machine the cylinder 1 is continuously driven by means of an electric motor 49which drives the shaft 6 through. aworm 50 on the motor shaft, a worm gear 51 on a horizontal counter-shaft 52 which carries a small gear 53 which meshes with a large gear 54 fixed to the shaft 6. The shafts 6 and 52 are journaled in a rectangular frame 55 which is supported upon the base which carries the motor 49 and which encloses the gearing mounted on said shafts. Toward the rear end of the frame 55 there is a horizontal shaft 56 to which is fixed a ratchet wheel 57 and a controller disc 58. Intermittent ro tative movement is imparted to the shaft 56 through a lever 59, which. is pivoted on the shaft 56 between the ratchet wheel 57 and disc 58. The forward end of the lever 59 extends along the inner side ofthe gear 54 above the shaft 6 and is engaged during each revolution of the gear 54 by a. roller 60 carried on the inner side of the gear. At. its rear end the lever 59 car a pawl 61 which engages with the teeth of the ratchet whee 57. During each rotation of the gear 54 the forward end of the lever 59 is en gaged by the roller 60 and swung upwardly about its pivot causing the rear end thereof which varries the'pawl 61 to swing downwtardly and turn the ratchet wheel '57 through a partial revolution. The ratchet wheel 57 is also engi-ig ed by a second pawl 62 mounted on a fixed pivot which serves to prevent reverse rotation of the ratchet wheel. The ratchet wheel 57 and disk 58 control the operation of the devices for feeding a charge of unpopped corn to the cylinder and discharging the unpopped corn from the cyliuder after thepopping lperiod. Since it is desirable to vary the time of the popping operation, means are provided for varying the throw of the lever 59. To this end, an adjustable stop 63, carried by the bracket 64 mounted on the rear end of the frame 55, engages with the rear end of the lever 59 and limits the upward movement thereof. The stop member 63 is in the form of a vertically disposed pin slidably mounted in the bracket 64, the lower end of the pin 63 being in the path of movement of the lever 59 and the upper end thereof having a. head which I is engageable with any one of a series'of notches in the edge of a bar 64 pivoted on the bracket 64 and held in engagement with the head of the .pin 63 by means of a leaf spring 64". The stop 63 serves to hold the forward end of the lever 59 when the same is not engaged by the roller 60 at varying heights above the shaft 6. The extent of movement of the lever 59 can thus be regulated and, as the lever 59 is adjusted for greater or less angular movement, the ratchet wheel 57 will be turned through a greater or smaller angle upon each actuation of the lever 59. Since the ratchet wheel 57 and controller disc 58 effect actuation of the feeding discharging and heating devices once during each revolution, itis obvious that by adjusting the stop 63 the time required to complete a cycle of operations may be lengthened or shortened. The valve operatin rod 48 is actuated through a' U- shaped bar 65 whichis positioned upon the outer side of the ratchet wheel 5? and is a Isa cured at its ends to the rod 48. The upper leg-0t the U-shapcd bar is engaged upon each complete revolution of the ratchet wheel 57 by a. roller 66 upon the outer side or the: ratchet wheel. The roller 66 lifts the operating rod and swings the valve 39 to a position to discharge its contents into the chute. \Vhcu the roller 66 moves out of engagement with the upper leg of the U- shaped bar 65 the valve 2-39 drops by gravity to charge receiving position. It for any reason the valve 39 should not move by gravity to its lowermost position the roller 66 a it passes beneath the sln t will engage with the lower leg oi? the til-shaped bar 65 and shift the rod 46 downwardly until the valve 39 is in its lew'eimosu position where it will receive afull charge of corn from the chute 36.

A slidably mounted red 6? extends horizontally through the rectangular frame immediately in front of the ratchet wheel 54. The rod 67 carries a conical, dish 68 which overlies the inner side of the ratchet wheel 57 and is providet with a collar 69 on the inner side of the frame and a roller 70 between the collar 69 and the cylinder 1.

The collar 69 is engaged by a leaf spring 71 carried by the frame which serves to yieldingly hold the collar 69 against the frame 55. The conical disk 68 is engaged upon each revolution of the ratchet wheel 57 by a cam lug 72 upon the inner face of the wheel. henthe lug 72 is in engagement with the disk 68 the roller T0 is forced inwardly toward the side plate 2 of the cylinder and is in the path of the lug 30 on the inner end of the actuating lever 2st. The engagement of the lever 2% with the roller 70 causes the discharge gate 13 to be moved to discharging position. The cam lug 72 is so positioned with respect to the actuating roller 66 that the gate 13 is actuated and returned to normal position just prior tot/he engagement of the roller 66 with the bar 65 to actuate the charge feeding device. A fixed roller TS is mounted on the inner side of the frame and projects toward the cylinder 1 a less distance than the roller 70 and is in the path of the lug 31 upon the outer end of the actuating lever 24; when said lever has been actuated to move the gate 13 to dischargi 9; position and serves to return the gate 13 to normal position after it has gathered up the unpopped kernels ot corn from the screen 8.

The controller dish 58 consists of a body portion 74 made of insulating material and a metallic cover plate 75 which covers the outer face o1 the disk and has a peripheral flange 76 which overlies the periphery thereof. The disk 58 is engaged by three spring contact strips 71. 78 and 79, the contact 77 engaging the periphery of the disk, the con tact 78 engaging the cover plate 75 adjacent engagement with the insulating body 7 i of the disk. Adjacent the ends oil the gap 80, notches S1 and 82 are formed in the periphery et the insulating body 74:, the notch 81 being at the forward end of the ga 7 80 and the notch 82 at the rear end thereof. The iiange 76 terminates at the torward'edge ot the notch 81 and the forward wall of the notch 81 is substantially radial. so that when the spring contact strip '17 rides off the end ot the liange '76, it will snap'into the notch 81 in'nnediately breaking the circuit through the plate T5 so that there is no danger 0t forming an are between the contact strip and plate which would burn the contact as the circuit is being broken The rear wall of the notch 82 is inclined and the forward wall thereot is substantially radial so that the contact strip 77 snaps into the notch 82 when the notch is moved beneath the contact strip The flange 76 extends down into the notch 82 so that when the cont-act strip 7'? snaps into the notch, the circuit through the contact strip is instantly reestablished. his construction prevents arcing between the strip 77 and the flange 76 when contact is made between them. The front radial wall oi the notch 72 also terms a stop against which the "forward end of the strip 77. will engage to prevent any bacl: lash ot the disk which might otherwise cause the contact strip 77 to more back out of contact with the flange 76 after making contact therewith. The plate T5 is provided with an opening 8% adjacent the gap 80 in the peripheral flange 7 6 and in the path of the contact strip 78 so that during a portion ct the time while the strip 77 is in engagement with the insulating body T l the contact strip 78 willbc in engagement with the insulating body 7- is shown in Fig. 9-ot the drawing, the contact strip 79 is connected by means of a wire 85 to a suitable source of current, the contact strip 78 is connected by means of a wire 86 to the motor 49 and the contact strip 77 is connected by means of a wire 87 to the heater 11. The heater 11 and the motor *ll-i) are connected to the opposite terminal (it the source oi current by means of wires C8 and 82 lhe motor 45) is also ctnnuactcd to the source (it current through an, independent connection 94) in which there is a mannaly operable switch 91. The heater 11 has a main coil 11 and auxiliary coils 11" and 11", the main coil. 11 being connected with the wires 87 and 88 as that when the circuit through the contact 77 is closed a circuit is established through this coil to generate sutlicient heat for popping the corn. The auxiliary coils 11 and 11 are connected in series with the main coil and an auxiliary circuit is provided through the wire 88, coils 11, 11", 11 and to the negative line through a wire 88, a switch 11 being provided for cutting the coil 11 into or out of the auxiliary circuit. The auxiliary circuit is always closed while the machine is in operation and serves to keep the heater warm during the intervals during which the main heater circuit is open. The switch 11 serves to regulate the current through the auxiliary circuit and when opened increases the current through the auxiliary circuit as maybe desirable to provide more heat for popping.

The contact strip 79 is always in engagement with the plate and the contact strips 77 and 78 are in engagement with, the flange 76 and the plate 75 except when passing over the gap and the opening 8 1-. If the switch 91 is closed the motor 49 will continue to operate regardless of whether the contact strip 78 in engagement with the plate 75 or with the insulating body 7d. However, if the switch 91 is opened the motor circuit will be completed through the wire85, cont-act strip 7 9, plate 7 5, contact strip 73 and wire 86 until the opening 84: moves into registry with the contact strip 78. As above explained, the popping device moves through a complete cycle of operations during each revolution of the ratchet wheel 57. The. controller disk 58 rotates with the ratchet wheel and the opening P4. in the plate 75 is so positioned that the strip 78 just after the unpopped corn has been discharged from the cylinder and just prior to the operation of the valve 39 to :leed a fresh charge of unpopped corn to the cylinder. It will thus be apparent therefore that wheneverthe manually operated switch 91 is turned on, the motor 49 will be energized and will continue to operate as long as the switch 91 is closed. hen a sufiicient amount of corn has been popped the switch 91 will be opened but the opening ofthe switch 91 will not immediately stop the motor since the circuit through the motor will be completed through the contact strips 7 Sand 79 and this circuit will remain closed until the contact strip. 78 engages the insulating body at the opening 3% cansing the motor to continue its operation until the popping cycle is completed. lVhile the contact strip 7 7 is in engagement with the insulating body Tel, the circuit through the heater will be broken. The gap 80 in the flange 75 is so positioned onthe disk that the main circuit through the'heater 11 is broken .while the discl'iarge gate 13 is being operated to discharge the unpopped corn from the cylinder 1 and while the valve 39 is being operated to deliver a charge of unpopped corn to the cylinder. be opencircuit is broken through the contact ing 84 is so disposed with respect to the gap 30 that the circult through the motor 49 is always completed before the contact strip 1 P.

7 l engages the flange to at the rear endof the gap 80 to reestablish the circuit through the heater 11 so that a momentary closing of the switch 91 cannot cause a slightmovement oi the disk which would complete the circuit through the heater before the motor circuit through the plate 75 is closed. Otherwise the motor might be stopped and the heater still remain on; a

To operate the machine, the switch 91 is moved to closed position starting the motor -19 which continuously rotates the cylinder 1 through the gears 50, 51, 53 and 54 and intermittently turns the ratchet 57 and the controller disk 58 by means of the lever 59 which is engaged by the roller 60 on the gear 5% and carries the pawl Glengaging the ratchet wheel .57. Since the machine always stops in the same positionwith the roller 66 on the ratchet wheel 57 in position to engage the valve actuating bar 65, the valve 39 is immediately operated through the connecting rodS which carries the arm 65. Immediately after the charge of unpoppedcorn has been delivered to the cylin der 1, the disk 58 is rotated sur'iiciently to bring the contact 77 into engagement with the. flange 7G to complete the main circuit through the electric heater 11. The actuating lever 59 will be adjusted to provide sufficient time for the revolution of the controller disk andratchet wheel topermit the corn which has been fed to the cylinder to be popped before thecdischarge gate 18 is operated to discharge the unpopped corn. The rate of revolution of the ratchet wheel 57 and disk 58 may be varied by adjusting the stop 63 to vary the throw of the lever 59. When the cam plug 72 comes into engagement with the conical disk 68 on the slidable rod (37, the trip roller 70 will be moved toward the cylinder 1 into the path of the end, portion 30 of the discharge gate actuating lever Q ito shift the discharge gate 13 into engagement with the outer screen 8 of the cylinder. After the cylinder has turned substantially one halt of a revolution, the lug 31. on the inner side of the curved actuating lever 24 will engage with the fixed trip roller 73 carried by the frame 55 shifting the gate 13 back to its normal position in which position the gate 13 will discharge its contents into the discharge chute 21. At the same time that the cam lug 72 engages the disk 68, the gap 80 in the flange 76 will be brought beneathlthe contact strip 77 and the main circuit through the electric heater 11 will be broken. After the gate 13 has been actu-' ated todischarge the unpopped corn the roller 66 on the ratchet wheel 57 will again engage with the actuating bar 65 and open ate the valve 39 to deliver a charge of unpopped corn to the cylinder.

The cycle of operations above described will be repeated as long as the switch 91 remains closed. hen the switch 91 is opened the motor 49 will continue to operate until the circuit through the contact strip 78 is broken at the end of the popping cycle.

If it is desirable atany time to discharge the contents of the cylinder before the completion of the popping cycle the slidable rod (57 may be manually operated to trip the discharge gate 13. i it is desirable to stop the entire machine before a cycle of operation is completed, the usual circuit breaking devices of the power circuit may be employed.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. In a corn popping machine, a popping device having a definite cycle of operations for popping and delivering a charge of popped corn, means for driving said popping device, means operated by the driving means for delivering a charge of unpopped corn to the popping device at the beginning of each cycle of operations, a manually operable controlling device movable to on and off positions to cause the popping machine to be driven or stopped, and an auxiliary cont-rollingrdevice operable when said manually operated controlling device has been moved to off position to continue the operation of the popping device until the end of the cycle and to then render said driving means inoperative.

2. In a corn popping machine, a popping device having a definite cycle of operations for popping and delivering a charge of popped corn, means for driving said popping device, means operated by the driving means for delivering a charge of unpopped corn to the popping device atthe beginning of each cycle of operations, a manually operable controlling device movable to on and on positions to cause the popping machine to be driven or stopped, and an auxiliary controlling device operated by the driving means, an auxiliary device being operable when the manually operated device has been moved to ofi' position to render said driving means inoperative at the end of the cycle of the popping device.

3. In a corn popping machine, a popping device having a definite cycle of operations for popping and delivering a charge of popped corn, means for driving said popping device, means operated by the driving means for delivering a charge of unpopped cornito the popping device at the beginning of each cycle of operations, a controlling device operated by the driving means for rendering the same inoperative when the cycle of operations of the popping device has been completed, and a manually operable cont-rolling member adapted when moved to one position to cause said driving means to operate said popping device and to render said first controlling device inoperative and when moved to another position to render said first controlling device operative.

t. In a corn popping machine, a popping device having a definite cycle of operations for popping and delivering a charge of popped corn, an electric motor for driving said popping device, means operated by the motor for delivering a charge or unpopped corn to the popping device at the begin ning of each cycle of operations, a circuit breaking device operated by the motor for opening the motor circuit when the cycle 01' operations of the popping device has been completed, and a manually operable device for rendering said circuit breaking device inoperative.

5. In a corn popping machine, a popping device having a definite cycle of operations for popping .and delivering a charge of popped corn, an electric motor for driving said popping device, means operated by the motor for delivering a charge of unpopped corn to the popping device at the beginning of each cycle of operations, a motor circuit including a circuit breaking device operated by the motor adapted to open the motor circuit at the end of each cycle of operations of the popping device, and an auxilliary motor circuit including a manually operable switch.

6. In a corn popping machine, a popping device having a definite cycle of operations for popping and delivering a charge of popped corn, an electric motor for driving said popping device, said popping device having-means for separating and discharging the popped corn during the popping operation, means for continuously driving said Jopping device, means for automatically delivering a charge of unpopped corn to the popping device at the beginning of each cycle of operations, means for automatically discharging the corn which remains un popped at the end of each cycle of operations, means for automatically stopping the popping device after each discharge of unpopped corn from the popping device, and before the delivery of a fresh charge thereto, and manually operable means for rendering said automatic stopping means inoperative whereby said popping device may be continuously operated to pop successive charges of corn.

7. In a corn popping machine, a popping device having a definite cycle of operations for popping and delivering a charge of popped corn, means for continuously operating said popping device through a plurality of popping cycles, means for automatically feeding a charge 01"? unpopped corn-to the popping device at the beginning of each popping cycle, and means for varying the time interval between the actuations of the charge feeding device.

8. In a corn popping machine, a popping device having a definite cycle of operations for popping and delivering a charge of popped corn, means for continuously operating said popping device through a plurality of popping cycles, a reservoir for unpopped corn, a charge feeder for delivering charges of unpopped corn from the reservoir to the popping device, means driven from said driving means for actuating said charge feeder, and means forvarying the rate of movement of said feeder actuating device.

9. In a corn popping machine, a popping cylinder having means for separating and discharging popped corn therefrom during the popping operation, means for continuously driving said cylinder, means for sunplying charges of unpopped corn to the cylinder and fondischarging unpopped corn fromthe cylinder, a rotating member driven from the driving means for controlling the actuation of said feeding and discharging means, and means for varying the rate of movementof said rotating member.

10. In a corn popping machine, a popping cylinder, means for continuously rotating the cylinder, means in said cylinder for separatingpopped corn from the unpopped corn and discharging the popped corn during the rotation of the cylinder, means car-- ried by the cylinder for discharging unpopped corn therefrom, a feeder for delivering charges of unpopped corn to. the cylinder, a rotating member driven by the cylinder driving means, means carried by the rotating member for actuating the feeder, a trip for actuating said discharger, and means carried by said rotating member for actuatingsaid trip.

11. In a corn popping machine, a popping cylinder, means for continuously rotating the cylinder, means in said cylinder for separating popped corn from the unpoppcd corn and discharging the popped corn during the rotation of the cylinder, meansfor feeding charges of unpopped corn to the cylinder, means carried by the cylinder for discharging unpopped corn therefrom, a rotating member driven by the cylinder driving means, means for 'ieriodically operating the feeding means from the rotating mem ber, means actuated by the rotating member for periodically operating the discharging means, and meansfor varying the rate of rotation of the rotating member.

12. In a popping machine, a continuously driven popping device, means operating at predetermined intervals to first discharge corn from the popping device and then to feed a fresh charge thereto, and means for adjusting said means to vary the time in terval between successive operations of the feeder and discharger. I i

13. In a popping machine, a continuously driven popping device, a stationary heating device associated therewith, means operating at predetermined intervals to first discharge corn from the popping device and then to feed a fresh charge thereto, and means for automatically rendering said heating device inoperative during the operation of the feeding and dischargng means. I

14. In a popping machine, a continuously dr en popping device, an electrical heating device associated therewith, means operating at predetermined intervals to first discharge corn from the popping device and then to feed a fresh charge thereto, and means for automatically interrupting the supply of current to the heating device during the operation of the discharging and feeding 85 means. I

15. In a popping machine, a continuously driven popping device, an electrical heating device associated therewith, means operating at predetermined intervals to first discharge corn from the popping device and then to feed a fresh charge of corn thereto, means for varying the time interval between successive operations of the discharging and feeding means, and means for interrupting the si'ipply of current to the heating device during the operation of the discharging and feeding means.

16. In a popping machine. a popping device, means for continuously driving'the 109 popping device, a ratchet wheel, means for inte'mittently actuating the ratchet wheel from the driving means, means operated by the ratchet wheel upon each revolution thereof to feed a cl iarge of corn to the pop- 1 ping device, and means for adjusting said ratchet wheel operating means to vary the rate of movement of the ratchet wheel.

17. In a popping machine. a popping device, means for continuously driving the 110 popping device, a ratchet wheel, means operated by the driving means for imparting an intermittent rotation to the ratchet wheel, means operated by the ratchet" wheel upon each revolution thereof for causing the pop 11 ping device to be emptied and for feeding a fresh charge of corn thereto, an electric heater associated with the popping device, and means associated with the ratchet wheel for interrupting the supply of current to the heating device during the discharging and feeding operati ons.

18. In a poppingmachine, a popping cyl inder, an electricvmotor for continuously rotating the cylinder, a rotating actuating and tin'iing device operated by the motor, means controlled by said timing device for discharging corn from the cylinderand for feeding a fresh charge of corn thereto, an electric heater associated with the cylinder, 1 0

said heater and motor having circuits con trolled by said timing device, said motor having an additional circuit controlled by a manually operated switch.

19. In a popping machine, a popping device, an electric motor for driving said device, a rotating member driven by said motor, means carried by said rotating member for controlling the discharge or unpopped corn from the popping device, the feeding of corn thereto and the operation of the motor, and means for varying the rate of movement of the controlling member relative to the popping device.

20. In a popping machine, a popping device, an electric motor for driving said device, an electric heater associated with the popping device, a manually operated switch which when closed causes the motor to operate, means for emptying the popping device and for feeding a fresh charge thereto, an actuating and timing device actuated by the motor for causing the operation of the ei'i'iptying and feeding means at definite intervals, said device having means for interrupting the flow of current to the heater during the emptying and feeding operations and for stopping the motor during the next interval between the discharging and feeding operations after said manually operated switch has been moved to open position.

21.1n a popping machine, a rotatably mounted popping cylinder having means for separating the popped from the unpopped corn and discharging the popped corn during the popping operation and means for discharging the unpopped corn, an electric heater associated therewith, an electric motor for rotating the cylinder, a rotatable member driven by the motor, means for varying the. rate of movement of the rotatable member with respect to the cylinder, means for feedingafresh chargeof corn to the cylinder, means controlled by the retatable member for actuating means for discharging unpopped corn from the cylinder and for feeding a fresh charge to the cylinder, for interrupting the flow of current to the heater during the discharging of unpopped corn from the cylinder and the feeding of a fresh charge thereto, and for stopping the motor in the inter *al between said discharging and feeding operations.

22. In a popping machine, a popping device, an electric heater associated therewith, an electric motor for driving the popping device, means for controlling said heater and motor comprising a rotating disk drive: by said. motor, said disk having a conducting portion permanently connected with a source of current, a contact member in the heater circuit engaging said disk, a contact member in the mot-or circuit engaging said disk, said disk having an insulating portion engageable with the contact members to cut off the sup ply of current to the heater and motor, and manually cont-rolled means for supplying current to the motor independently of the disk.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature.

\VILLIAM D. ROOT. 

